Whooping cough: is there a rapid test?

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. It is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Typical symptoms initially resemble the common cold Cough, runny nose and slight fever. But after a few days a feature appeared Dry and intermittent coughWhich occurs in repeated and single attacks Wheezing breathing noise And accompanies. The disease can cause serious complications, especially in infants and young children. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent whooping cough.

Detecting whooping cough using a PCR test

If you suspect you have whooping cough, you can get tested with your doctor. How is that Robert Koch Institute She recommends getting tested about two to three weeks after the cough starts.

Before the body forms antibodies against Bordetella pertussis, the pertussis pathogen can be reliably detected using this swab. Laboratory analysis is then performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Since small amounts of genetic material are sufficient for this method, PCR can detect the pathogen in nasopharyngeal secretions at an early stage.

Newer tests can provide rapid results after just a few hours. However, the analysis cannot always be reliable because the pathogen is very sensitive to cold and dry environments.

Important: Please contact your doctor by phone before visiting the clinic. Some safety measures may need to be taken to avoid infecting other people such as patients and practice staff.